Dave Mustaine: 'Marty and Chris Are Better Guitarists Than Me'

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Posted on Oct 23, 2013 02:03 pm

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While discussing the current state of affairs among Megadeth ranks, frontman Dave Mustaine didn't hesitate to admit not being the greatest guitarist out there, stressing the crucial importance of being versatile.
Dave kicked off by reassuring fans about the stability of the band's current lineup. "Getting Shawn [Drover] and Chris [Broderick] in the band has really let the fans know 'Hey, you don't have to worry about any lineup changes,'" he told R7. "This lineup's been consistent for a really long time and if it was my way this would have been the band from the beginning."
Mustaine then focused on the band's former guitarist Marty Friedman and current axeman Chris Broderick. "I still think that Marty and Chris are my two favorite guitar players in the band - both of them are better guitar players than I am."
The frontman went on to talk about guitar players in general. "I think that guitar playing is relative," he kicked off. "There really are so many guitar players out there that are better than I am, but it's like if you're good in one thing - you know, the guys that play solos and that's all they do. That's great, but what happens when you're not soloing - you just stand there?"
He continued, "Guys that just play rhythm - well that's great too, but when it comes the time for you show some dynamics in the band - two guitar players working together, that's more color. And if it's time for you to do a solo and it sounds like two cats f--king, that's horrible."
Finally, Dave showed no intentions of stopping anytime soon, saying he feels as if Megadeth is only getting started. "I think you limit your dreams. Your dreams don't really define you. But inside there's something that makes us think, 'I can't do it.' Like when I used to skydive."People ask me if I still skydive, and I say, 'No.' After 25 times of jumping out of an airplane, it's kind of like the novelty has worn off. Once the novelty wears off, it's like sticking your head in the mouth of a lion. It's, like, been there, done that."

agreed, Dialectic Chaos and Sudden Death are the only times Chris has been utilized to even half his potential. Dave should just get Chris Poland back and let Broderick go back to Nevermore if he's going to keep holding him back. Dave does always choose insanely good lead players though. And Dave is already a crazy good lead player.

It's stupid to say shredders can't play rhythm. You don't spend years developing one form of musical talent while completely ignoring everything else. The reason why those rhythms are boring and sound like jam tracks is because otherwise they'd get in the way of all that noodling. To say they can't play rhythm though, that's just dumb.

Huh, two sides of the coin, on one side we got Dave being full positive about Megadeth's future even stating that "They are just getting started"
On other side.... we got the drama of Slayer, stepping on thin ice and with an unknown future.

If you're just a "rhythm" guitar player, and you're not contributing anything to the band, then, yes, you have no use. But if you're writing lyrics, writing a lot of the music, or at least writing some of the melodies, then you belong in that band.